ยิ้มแหยะแหยะ “yim yae-yae” : – The “I know things look pretty bad, but there is no point in crying over spilt milk” smile

“… no TV… They plan to bore us to death. But I’ve got tons of books.” (Source: My friend Ataporn Y.)

One of the first acts of the creepy Orwellian-sounding National Peace and Order Maintaining Council (NPOMC), or theMilitary Junta, was to suspend radio and television broadcasting.

Smile 2

ยิ้มสู้“yim soo” :-The “it can’t get any worse than it already is therefore I better smile” smile.

“I think it will be better” (Source: My friend Kitiya K)

… no doubt hoping with this nineteenth military coup since 1932 that the end-game of the political crisis which has paralysed Thailand‘s political system is now in play.

Unfortunately, with Thailand now being controlled by a council of unelected officials, the illusion that what you wish for becomes true in this instance doesn’t augur well.

Smile 3

ยิ้มคัดค้าน “yim thak thaan” :– The “I disagree with you” smile.

Largely rural and working-class Red Shirts are not in any mood for compromise, once again feeling embittered that their popular mandate and Thailand‘s democracy have been stolen without elections, while the military junta will very likely suppress any defiance with force.

Is your television watching you?

Within the near-term quietness it seems the risks to Thailand are intensifying.

One response to “Land of three smiles: Today the Thai military seized power…”

It’s interesting to see the different perspectives of people writing the news stories of faraway lands and of people who accept this is daily life. I was recently interpreting for a group of Thai visitors who were very proud of protests, but I wonder if this is what they had in mind for a result?